Report: Pelicans Release Teresa Weatherspoon From Coaching Staff

New Orleans continues to tweak its coaching staff this offseason.

Terry Kimble | Jun 15, 2023

Report: Pelicans Release Teresa Weatherspoon From Coaching Staff /

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New Orleans Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Pelicans are parting ways with assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon, per a report from NBA Insider Shams Charania. Since 2020, Weatherspoon has been a Pelicans assistant coaching staff member. She initially joined the team in 2019 as a player development coach.

All-Star forward Zion Williamson formed a strong bond with Teresa Weatherspoon, who aided him in recovering from a right foot injury sustained during the 2021-2022 season. New Orleans beat reporter Nick Underhill reported Williamson met with Pelicans Executive Vice President David Griffin on Thursday afternoon for an standard offseason meeting.

Mar 27, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson talks to assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon during pre-game warm ups before their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans has made recent coaching staff changes this offseason by adding former Charlotte head coach James Borrego as an assistant head coach after Ryan Pannone's departure to the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Pelicans also made changes to its player and performance staff.

Weatherspoon played her collegiate basketball at Louisiana Tech, where she led the Lady Bulldogs to the 1988 NCAA Women's National Championship. She joined the WNBA in 1997, becoming a two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year and a five-time All-Star. Weatherspoon was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (2010) and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (2019).

Before Coach Willie Green took over as head coach, Weatherspoon remained part of Alvin Gentry's staff, making her one of the few remaining holdovers. As of now, the team has yet to reveal who will replace Weatherspoon.

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